Process for making aluminum-sheet-metal shapes.



KURT BARTHELMES, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

PROCESS FOR MAKING ALUMINUM-SHEET-METAL SHAPES.

No Drawing.

1 '0 all/whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, KURT BARTHELMEs, a citizen of theUnited States of America, residing at Rochester, New York, have invented a new and useful Process for Making Aluminum-Sheet-Metal Shapes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new proved process for sheet aluminum and I shall describe my invention in connection with the manufacture or shaping of sheet metal aluminum spouts for tea or coffee pots. In such manufacture a sheet metal tube or blank of the proper dimensions is formed which tube before it can be safely bent and shaped must be adequately heated. Not only must such a tube be first heated, but, if the distortion is to be substantial, it is necessary that there shall be some sort of internal support or backing to prevent injury to the tube during the bending and shaping process. By my process I provide in one step a heating agent which will also operate as a reinforcing core or backing to internally support the tube so that it maybe bent into the desired shape without injury.

In practising my process, I first fill the tube with molten metal, whereby the heat of said metal will adequately heat the aluminum so that it may later be bent or shaped without danger of breaking. The metal selected for the core should be so relatively soft and workable that, after it has cooled, the article may then be operated upon by any suitable tools or dies to give to the spout the desired shape. When the desired shape is attained the core is melted out. I have found lead, or a lead alloy, constitutes a very satisfactory material for the core since and im- Goyies'ot this patent may be obtained for Specification of Letters Patent.

shaping articles from Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

Application filed April 3, 1917. Serial No. 159,569.

the temperature of molten lead will be suificient to heat the aluminum to a state where it may be operated upon with safety. Ihave also found that by the selection of lead or a lead alloy, there is no danger of overheating and injuring the aluminum tube. I have also found that by the use of lead or an alloy such a material when melted becomes readily freed from the aluminum, thus leaving the interior. of the tube clean and smooth. In the making of spouts, Iprefer to make the tubular blanks by drawing each blank into tubular form from a disk of aluminum. This results in one end of the blank being closed, and this is advantageous in that it makes it easy to fill the tube with the melted lead.

It is obvious that my invention is not confined to the producing of spouts for coffee pots or tea pots, but may be extended to other articles particularly hollow or tubular articles. The application of my process to the arts may be sufliciently understood from the foregoing description to obviate the necessity for any drawings, particularly as no claim is made to any particular shape .or to any particular tool or die.

I claim:

The process of shaping articles made of aluminum comprising reinforcing an aluminum blank by introducing a core of soft metal in a molten state which metal melts at a temperature sufficient to heat the alumi num to such a degree as to permit it to be bent with safety, then applying pressure to produce the ing the metal core by the application of heat.

KURT BARTHELMES.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. G.

desired shape and then remov- 

